From Pursuers to Innovators: The Booming Market for Solar Thermal Power Generation

From “Light Pursuers” to “Light Producers”! Solar Thermal Power Generation is Set to Welcome a Trillion-Level Incremental Market

Date: September 25, 2025

On September 24, the Xinhua News Agency launched the second episode of its significant dialogue series titled “A New Era of Energy Storage”, named “From ‘Light Pursuers’ to ‘Light Producers'” (the first episode being “Solar Flowers in the Gobi”). This episode focuses on parabolic trough solar thermal power technology as a case study to highlight China’s journey from following to leading in solar thermal power generation, while also looking ahead at the prospects for further large-scale development in the industry.

Hosted by Liu Yafang, a part-time professor at Zhejiang University, the discussion featured Zhao Xiaohui, Executive Vice President of the Solar Thermal Industry Technology Innovation Strategic Alliance; Yu Ke, General Manager of Changzhou Longteng Solar Technology Co., Ltd.; Yang Tao, General Manager/Executive Director of China General Nuclear Power Group Solar Daqing Co., Ltd.; and Wang Yi, Chairman of the National Solar Thermal Power Generation Standardization Technical Committee, who engaged in dialogue regarding the development and application of solar thermal power technology in the western regions of China.

Across the vast lands of western China, an energy revolution fueled by sunlight is accelerating. From experimental demonstrations to engineering promotion, solar thermal power generation, with its long-duration energy storage advantage, is safeguarding the large-scale development of green electricity, secure transmission, and the stability of the power system in the west. The emergence of a trillion-level market size is catalyzing the systematic manufacturing of equipment, and the establishment of international standards is solidifying the industry’s voice. Furthermore, technological innovation and collaboration across the industrial chain are making solar thermal power generation a significant force in the energy transition.

Yang Tao, General Manager: The core of parabolic trough solar thermal technology lies in a series of parabolic mirrors that collect sunlight. These mirrors focus the sunlight onto a linear receiver, heating the heat transfer fluid within the receiver pipes, which then generates steam to drive power generation.

Yu Ke, General Manager: Parabolic trough solar technology began early and has led to the successful commissioning of several commercial projects in China, including the 50 MW parabolic trough solar power station in Delingha by China General Nuclear Power Group, the 100 MW parabolic trough solar power station in Wulanchabu by China National Nuclear Corporation, and the 40 MW combined heat and power station in Zabuye.

Zhao Xiaohui, Executive Vice President: From the first batch of demonstration projects to now, after six or seven years of practical validation and continuous exploration, we have proven the feasibility of large-scale grid-connected power generation technology using parabolic trough solar thermal power. The recent operation of the molten salt trough testing loop has further enhanced the economic competitiveness of parabolic trough solar thermal power stations. Thanks to various domestic practices, we have accumulated experience and standards for the design, construction, and operation and maintenance of large-capacity power stations.

Liu Yafang, Professor: In the initial demonstration projects in China, most of the technology and equipment for parabolic trough projects were sourced from abroad, with some key systems fully relying on foreign designs. This not only resulted in high investment costs but also required significant expenses for maintenance, equipment replacement, and parameter calibration, necessitating foreign technical experts. In contrast, the receivers for tower solar projects, including nickel-based alloy molten salt pumps, molten salt valves, and molten salt level gauges, also depended on imports.

Yu Ke, General Manager: For instance, in parabolic trough solar technology, high-temperature vacuum receivers, which are critical components, were almost entirely monopolized by foreign companies before the implementation of the first batch of national demonstration projects. Through these initial projects, the 50 MW Delingha and 100 MW Wulanchabu projects were the first to apply domestically developed vacuum receivers. Operational comparisons have verified that the performance of domestic vacuum receivers not only meets international advanced standards but even surpasses imported products in reliability. This not only significantly reduces investment costs but also achieves self-controlled core equipment.

In the Linhe District of Bayannur City in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, Longteng Solar is investing in the construction of a new generation parabolic trough technology demonstration base. The new generation molten salt parabolic concentrator SCA demonstration system is operational and is undergoing engineering validation to ensure that parameters of products can be calibrated for subsequent large-scale power station construction and design, achieving rapid production capacity.

After operational testing, the molten salt vacuum receivers from Longteng Solar have already been sold to advanced molten salt parabolic trough projects in Europe.

Yang Tao, General Manager: In 2015, China General Nuclear Power Group took the lead in constructing the country’s first large-scale commercial solar thermal power demonstration project. Based on the introduction, digestion, and absorption of advanced foreign technology and construction experience, the 50 MW Delingha parabolic trough demonstration power station was successfully completed and put into operation, marking the transition from following to keeping pace with global developments. To reduce costs and increase efficiency, China General Nuclear Power Group is actively conducting research on large aperture energy trough technology to create a new generation of large-capacity, low-cost solar thermal solutions, while simultaneously planning the construction of solar thermal demonstration projects in Geermu (350,000 KW) and Delingha (300,000 KW), laying the foundation for the transition from keeping pace to leading in the industry.

Zhao Xiaohui, Executive Vice President: Over the past decade, solar thermal power generation in China has matured, achieving parity with international standards in most areas and even leading the global solar thermal power generation industry.

Liu Yafang, Professor: Standing here, we can feel the abundant solar resources in Qinghai. As the sun moves, the entire mirror field sparkles like a shimmering lake, deep and tranquil.

Yang Tao, General Manager: This mirror field resembles a military formation, showcasing the spectacular sight of parabolic trough solar thermal technology, comparable to tower and Fresnel solar technologies. It collectively demonstrates China’s technological strength and innovation capability in the field of solar thermal power generation in regions such as Qinghai, Inner Mongolia, Xinjiang, Gansu, and Tibet.

Liu Yafang, Professor: Solar thermal power generation and photovoltaic solar power generation are two completely different technologies, yet their construction costs are often compared. The long-duration energy storage coupled with solar thermal power and its ability to support the safe and stable operation of the power system are characteristics that photovoltaic generation lacks. In western China, represented by Qinghai, abundant wind and solar resources and vast land are key to supporting the safe and stable operation of the power system and the long-distance transmission of green electricity, further enhancing the development and absorption levels of green electricity.

Wang Yi, Chairman: China’s solar thermal power demonstration projects have established relevant technical standards that will inform and guide engineering construction. From general planning, surveying, design, construction, installation, commissioning, operation, maintenance, to technical management along the entire industrial chain, we are building a relatively complete technical standard system to provide solid technical support and guarantees for future engineering construction and production operations.

Yu Ke, General Manager: As the domestic solar thermal power industry enters a stage of large-scale development, the manufacturing sectors for collectors, heliostats, receivers, heat transfer pipes, molten salt pumps, electric heaters, steam generators, tracking controllers, and molten salt storage tanks will welcome a trillion-level incremental market. This will also stimulate the supporting industries of steel, cement, glass, pipelines, insulation materials, and molten salt materials. The solar thermal industry is entering a phase of rapid growth in the industrial chain, achieving scale-based cost reductions that will further lower investment in power stations. The rapid decline in the cost per kilowatt-hour will promote even faster growth in power station development and investment construction, leading to a virtuous cycle of economic growth in the industry.

Wang Yi, Chairman: To ensure the quality and safety of key systems and equipment in solar thermal power stations, we have completed technical specifications for parabolic trough, tower, and Fresnel solar thermal power stations through standardization efforts, and these three important standards have been upgraded to international standards.

Liu Yafang, Professor: We have just visited the impressive performance improvements of the new generation large trough concentrating equipment, confirming the new type of productive force driven by technological innovation.

Yu Ke, General Manager: The new generation large trough solar thermal technology has achieved multiple technological innovations, which is not solely the achievement of our company but relies on China’s comprehensive industrial system. Typically, we propose design innovation points and collaborate with various specialized units within the industry to tackle challenges collectively for industrialization. I believe that leveraging China’s complete industrial chain support system and the combined capabilities of surveying, design, and construction units, we can establish a new productive force in solar thermal energy that will enable rapid cost reductions and lead to advancements in the global solar thermal industry.

Liu Yafang, Professor: The ultra-white glass, coating materials, heat storage molten salt, molten salt pumps, molten salt valves, and intelligent control systems used in the concentrating heat collection stage of solar thermal power generation have already achieved technological and engineering innovations in the fields of materials and artificial intelligence. Conventional turbines and generators used in solar thermal power generation can effectively revitalize the manufacturing industry chain of turbine and generator equipment traditionally associated with coal-fired power plants. Solar thermal power generation exhibits characteristics of a new productive force.

The Solar Thermal Industry Technology Innovation Strategic Alliance was established in October 2009 in accordance with the Guiding Opinions on Promoting the Construction of Industrial Technology Innovation Strategic Alliances jointly issued by six departments including the Ministry of Science and Technology, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Education, the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of the State Council, the All-China Federation of Trade Unions, and the China Development Bank. In 2012, it was evaluated as an A-class alliance by the Ministry of Science and Technology. As a technology innovation-oriented cooperative organization composed of relevant enterprises, universities, and research institutions, the Solar Thermal Alliance gathers member units and industry forces, actively promoting the healthy and sustainable development of technologies and industries related to high-temperature solar thermal power generation, medium and low-temperature solar thermal utilization, and thermal energy storage.